Mars500 Crew Prepare to Open the HatchMars500 Crew Prepare to Open the Hatch
<p>The 520 days of isolation for the Mars500 crew will end on 4 November, when the hatch of their ‘spacecraft’ is opened for the first time since June last year.
Month: October 2011
NASA in Final Preparations for Nov. 8 Asteroid FlybyNASA in Final Preparations for Nov. 8 Asteroid Flyby
<p>NASA scientists will be tracking asteroid 2005 YU55 with antennas of the agency’s Deep Space Network at Goldstone, Calif., as the space rock safely flies past
AAVSO Alert Notice 450: Request for Observations of SDSS J080434.20+510349.2 in Support of HST ObservationsAAVSO Alert Notice 450: Request for Observations of SDSS J080434.20+510349.2 in Support of HST Observations
AAVSO Alert Notice 450<br /> Request for observations of SDSS J080434.20+510349.2 in support of HST observations<br /> October 25, 2011 <p>Dr. Paula Szkody (University of Washington) has requested the help of AAVSO observers
Orionid Meteor Shower This WeekendOrionid Meteor Shower This Weekend
<p>Today Earth is entering a stream of debris from Halley’s comet, source of the annual Orionid meteor shower. Forecasters expect the shower to peak on Saturday morning, Oct. 22nd, with
Herschel Space Observatory Detects Abundant Water in Planet-Forming DiscHerschel Space Observatory Detects Abundant Water in Planet-Forming Disc
<p>ESA’s Herschel space observatory has found evidence of water vapour emanating from ice on dust grains in the disc around a young star, revealing a hidden ice reservoir the size
What Is Our Future in Space?What Is Our Future in Space?
<p>In July 2011, at the JREF’s <a target="_blank" href="http://www.amazingmeeting.com/">TAM 9 meeting</a> in Las Vegas, astronomer <a href="http://www.badastronomy.com/index.html" target="_blank">Phil Plait</a> moderated a panel discussing the future of space exploration. On that
Amateur Skywatchers Help Space Hazards TeamAmateur Skywatchers Help Space Hazards Team
<p>For the first time, observations coordinated by ESA’s space hazards team have found an asteroid that comes close enough to Earth to pose an impact threat. The space
Did the Water in Earth’s Oceans Come From Comets After All?Did the Water in Earth’s Oceans Come From Comets After All?
<p>ESA’s Herschel infrared space observatory has found water in a comet with almost exactly the same composition as Earth’s oceans. The discovery revives the idea that our planet’s seas could